Today, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) received the Best Government Policy for Mobile Development award at GSMA's Mobile World Congress 2013. The Agency's work to increase the use of mobile services to empower women was recognized by the mobile industry’s largest trade association at its annual event, which attracts over 70,000 people.

Today, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), with partners Qtel Group and AusAID, announced the winners of the GSMA mWomen Design Challenge, which aims to redefine the smartphone user experience for resource-poor women in emerging markets.

Winners of GSMA mWomen Design Challenge to be Announced; New Study on Women and Mobile Financial Services

On February 26, Dr. Maura O'Neill, Chief Innovation Officer, for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) will participate in a panel discussion on women’s inclusion in mobile financial services, during the GSMA mWomen Seminar at Mobile World Congress 2013 in Barcelona, Spain.

Today, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), in partnership with the Government of the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID), announced the establishment of the USAID/DFID Humanitarian Innovation Initiative to invest in cost-effective innovations to humanitarian challenges.

On February 16, Dr. Alex Dehgan, Science and Technology Adviser to USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah and Director of the USAID Office of Science and Technology, will participate in a panel discussion, Bridging the Gap Between Global Environmental Change Research and Development, at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in Boston.

Today the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and its partner Humanity United announce the first-round winners of the Tech Challenge for Atrocity Prevention – a technology competition enlisting problem solvers from around the world in support of the White House’s effort to design new tools to prevent mass atrocities.

Today, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Partnerships for Enhanced Engagement Research (PEER) Science program and National Instruments (NI) announced a unique public-private partnership. The organizations are partnering to bring cutting-edge scientific equipment, training and support to approximately 100 research projects with commercial promise and demonstrated long-term development impact in more than 80 countries over the next five years. This partnership is the first step in USAID PEER’s effort to leverage the private sector in support of scientists in developing countries.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and five Salvadorian foundations today announced a partnership to combat citizen insecurity and strengthen municipal responses to crime and violence in 50 dangerous communities in El Salvador. This public-private partnership is the largest in USAID history with local partners and ever in Latin America.

Today, Rebecca Black was sworn in as the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission Director for Cambodia. Assistant Administrator for Asia Nisha Biswal presided over the ceremony and USAID Administrator Dr. Rajiv Shah administered the oath of office to Black.

The U.S. Department of State and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) signed a memorandum of understanding with the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) at a private ceremony today that will establish the first investment fund in Badakhshan, Afghanistan to invest in social development projects.

To combat deforestation in the Andean Amazon, four U.S. universities have been awarded funding by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) through Higher Education for Development (HED) to partner with South American universities to enhance local biodiversity conservation and sustainability.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW) today announced the upcoming National Summit on “Call to Action for Child Survival and Development”, scheduled to be held in Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu from February 7-9, 2013. Organized in partnership with UNICEF and USAID, the Summit is a critical platform that will strategically engage over 200 delegates including 27 international and 35 national experts, key policy makers, planners and implementers from the health sector representing all states of India, representatives and heads of UN and development agencies, global health experts and practitioners, Civil society members and private sector, to discuss and debate on Child Survival and development in India.

Dr. Mary C. Ott was sworn in today as the new Mission Director for Egypt for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Assistant Administrator for the Middle East Bureau, Mara Rudman administered the oath of office.

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) today with Ethiopia and DuPont to boost maize harvests through increased use of hybrid maize seed, improved seed distribution, and post-harvest storage.

Today, the Government of Afghanistan announced that it has joined the Better Than Cash Alliance, an initiative founded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Citi, Ford Foundation, Omidyar Network, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), U.N. Capital Development Fund and Visa Inc., by committing to transition significant volumes of cash payments to electronic payments.

On behalf of USAID, I would like to congratulate President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Parliament on establishing Somalia’s first permanent government after more than 20 years and reinforce our partnership with you to build a peaceful, prosperous country.

In a ceremony at the Central Bank of Nigeria on January 17, 2013, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Dr. Rajiv Shah, Nigerian Central Bank Governor Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, and Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, represented by Honorable Minister Dr. Akinwumi Adesinathe, launched a partnership in which the parties expect to leverage up to $100 million in commercial lending for the country’s agriculture sector.

U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Dr. Rajiv Shah will travel to Nigeria from January 17-18 where he will meet with senior government officials to further USAID’s collaboration with the government of Nigeria and will meet with leaders in Nigeria’s private sector to discuss new opportunities for partnerships that can accelerate growth and development.

Today, the Government of Ethiopia convened a meeting of African Ministers of Health and global experts aimed at accelerating reductions in preventable child deaths through sharper national plans and improved monitoring and evaluation. The African Leadership for Child Survival – A Promise Renewed conference, follows last year’s Child Survival Call to Action, which was co-convened by the Governments of Ethiopia, India and the United States with UNICEF and launched a global roadmap to end preventable deaths of children under five.